Spats

[MattDebbage]

My car does not have the spats that the later SE's have. I dont think it had them originally, but i like them so i got a pair of good second hand ones on ebay.
When they arrived, one was indeed good, the other had a 2" crack at the top and a lump of fibreglass broken off at the bottom
So i have been practising my fibreglassing today:

They need another light rub down, and the the backs spraying with gravigard before painting, but im quite pleased. You cant see where the damage was.
6 hours solid work though - you can see why bodywork costs a fortune...
Matt.

[johnthebass]

They look good Matt! I went through a similar experience when some pillock in Tesco's car park decided to reverse into me and split one nearly in half! Did take a while to do.
John.

[Simpatico]

Ugh! Why would you want to fit those things, they ruin the Excel's looks and would dwarf your 14" wheels (which look 1 million times betterthan most other types)

[MattDebbage]

Not a fan then
I like them, i think the back end looks unfinished without them.
Matt.

[KevW]

I have to agree with you Matt. I've considered taking them off my Excel in the past but always decided against it. The funny thing is if the factory had never made spats for the Excel I would never even consider fitting something similar.

[robertverhey]

Guess it's a personal choice. I keep my spats in a box. I think they spoil the lines of the car....would probably take the spoiler off too if I had the choice...but that would leave holes in the bootlid.

Remember reading something about these bits limiting top speed, by design....is that true?

Robert

[AndyC]

Apparently to help keep the back end pinned to the tarmac but also kept top end down as the car destroyed gearbox bearings if not used.

[johnthebass]

There was another reason for the spats! They funnel air on to the diff to keep it cool at high speeds!
John.

[malcolm]

Another reason I heard was they helped make sure the n/a esprit of the same era was still that bit faster than the excel.

[don.hasi]

There was another reason for the spats! They funnel air on to the diff to keep it cool at high speeds!
John.

This was the reason Mr. Winterbottom had told us too. So I wouldn´t demount them.

[MrCoolA]

Ugh! Why would you want to fit those things, they ruin the Excel's looks and would dwarf your 14" wheels (which look 1 million times betterthan most other types)

IYHO.....................................................Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr


I love my spats.......they look lush..............and i would trade some top speed for a few seconds off the acceleration........i spend no time at 130mph so i would love to spend even less to 90...................plus they may just make the difference in the wet between some teen nugget ploughing into your arse in the wet as they may help to keep the fountains of spray down...........maybe????

[johnthebass]

Robert suggests that he would wish to remove the spats and the spoiler! Ok! Well the Eclat didn't have either so maybe the Excel can do without them but as with the spoiler on the underside of the front bumper they are there for aerodynamic purposes. Somewhere I've read that these appendages were all about improving the already low drag coefficient and the overall stability of the car. In the spirit of "lightness" I cant imagine that either Lotus or Mr Winterbottom would have put them there unless they were needed!

[MrCoolA]

Robert suggests that he would wish to remove the spats and the spoiler! Ok! Well the Eclat didn't have either so maybe the Excel can do without them but as with the spoiler on the underside of the front bumper they are there for aerodynamic purposes. Somewhere I've read that these appendages were all about improving the already low drag coefficient and the overall stability of the car. In the spirit of "lightness" I cant imagine that either Lotus or Mr Winterbottom would have put them there unless they were needed!

I like the cut of your jib Mr Base.......................................

[Simpatico]

So many tales about a single part , I would reckon their appearance has more to do with the Vehicle Construction and Use regulations, the Spray Supression requirements, and a zealous DoT inspector with a tape measure. It may only be MHO but I reckon these colour-coded mudflaps (and sombre wheel design) are part of the reason the Excel is viewed by the great unwashed as an older gentlemans carriage.

As far as I have seen no 14" wheel equipped cars (LC engine) had them either with or without the quattro-arches; it could be like when the Esprit went from 17" to 18" wheels on the V8 and sprouted little arch brows and extensions. Did the spats appear alongside the deeper front spoiler of the later cars suggesting it was to do with stability? I wonder how much faster is an HC over an LC? A few mph? Do aerodynamics not take effect until 130mph making the journey to 135mph so much more dangerous with melting diffs etc? I reckon we should have an umpires decision from Colin Spooner

[don.hasi]

Mr. Winterbottom has said it forces 7 km/h top speed difference to the one´s without. And as the final drive is not bullet proof one should watch out... but each to its own...